Vacation in Austin - Texas

Austin is a diverse city, because it offers both chic city life and beautiful hill-country less than an hour away. Both the city and surrounding towns in the Hill Country host many outdoor events. The historic towns and more than two dozen vineyards create a laid-back and soulful environment waiting to be explored. Located centrally, Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail provides a ten mile, scenic trail surrounding the lake. The Austin region encompasses an environment which supports hiking, biking, paddling, rowing and fishing.

Austin is the capital of Texas, home of the University of Texas at Austin and gateway to the beautiful Hill Country. As the Live Music Capital of the World, the city has a soundtrack all its own. More than 250 live music venues flourish with rock, blues, indie, pop and Tejano. From SXSW to the ACL Music Festival, Austin Food + Wine Festival to Moontower Comedy Fest, there’s always something playing. Top notch restaurants with legendary barbeque and farm-to-table cuisine whet your appetite. Shop in one-of-a-kind boutiques that line South Congress and the 2nd Street district, or head out to the hill country to relax in a world destination spa. Our entertainment districts include Downtown, East, Rainey Street, Red River, Sixth Street and South Congress. These districts offer unique food and music venues in the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Cultural Activities

Austin’s food contributes to the unique culture of the city. Enjoy sushi at Uchi, vegan specialty dishes at Bouldin Creek Café, Korean barbeque at Chi’Lantro, Texas barbeque at The Salt Lick or Franklin’s, and of course, Tex-Mex at Polvos, Torchy’s or Juan in a Million. These are just a few of the hundreds of original eateries around town. Craft beer breweries have also become a staple to Austin culture, offered at venues like Craft Pride, Draught House Pub & Brewery, Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden and Easy Tiger. Austin plays host to many cultural activities as well, including various Black History Month events, Austin Fashion Week, showcases at the Mexic-Arte Museum, music at Irish Pubs like Fado or B.D. Riley’s, Austin’s Annual Native American Pow Wow, the Texas Community Music Festival, Austin Reggae Fest, the exhibits at the Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Blanton Museum of Art, comedy at Esther’s Follies, poetry slams at Spider House, yoga classes at Black Swan or Wanderlust, original local book and record stores like BookPeople and Waterloo Records which feature talks and performances, and of course eclectic live music every night.

Attractions

Popular attractions in Austin include Circuit of The Americas™ and the Austin360 Amphitheater. The Austin360 Amphitheater is the largest outdoor amphitheater in the State of Texas, hosting concerts for big names in music, including the FORMULA 1 performances, along with multi-day music festivals, comedians, speakers, private rentals and sporting events. Additional attractions include the University of Texas at Austin, the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, and the Texas Hill Country.

Austin offers the Capital Metro Public Transit system for visitors, which includes 50 Metro routes, two MetroRapid routes, eight Express routes and 19 UT shuttle routes. Capital Metro offers MetroAccess service for passengers with disabilities, Vanpool coordination through RideShare service, Freight rail service, and 7 MetroBike shelters at MetroRail and MetroRapid stations. Additionally, the mobile service Uber has made a home in Austin. Uber is available in most parts of Austin and is completely cashless. There are multiple cab services in Austin as well. Austin is cyclist-friendly, and there are many locations where you can rent a bicycle and ride around town. The city offers separate lanes for cyclists. Pedicabs are also available in the downtown area.

Best Time To Go:

Spring and fall.

Austin’s warm weather and mild winter allows for a large array of outdoor activities. More than 300 days of sunshine lend itself to a refreshing dip in Barton Springs, a hiking trip through the Barton Creek Greenbelt or stand-up paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake. During the spring, visitors can check out the beautiful bluebonnets which bloom across town, and more native wildlife at the Zilker Botanical Gardens.

Choose from accommodations which range from boutique hotels to world class resorts. Check out all of the options for hotels around Austin. If you are seeking an outdoor adventures, there are multiple camping grounds throughout the region.